October 1, 2015

St. Thérèse of Lisieux

Lk 10: 1-12

After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house!’ And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you.

Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, on that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town.

In This Together

I’ll bet the disciples were both nervous and excited when Jesus sent them out to proclaim the peace of his kingdom. Sharing joy and good news is uplifting, but sometimes it can be nerve-wracking to step outside our comfort zone! In his directions for their mission, Jesus directs the disciples to go out in pairs, totally dependent on God’s providence and the kindness of strangers. Having a friend along can often make a journey more fun, and it’s comforting to have an ally when we’re uneasy or afraid. Were some of the disciples uncomfortable not bringing any provisions or money along? What did they learn about placing all their trust in God?

What friendships and support systems am I most thankful for? In which parts of my life do I totally depend on God to take care of me? How do I share the peace of Jesus’ kingdom with others?

—Maggie Melchior is a convert to the Catholic faith. She currently serves as Coordinator of New Evangelization and Faith Formation for a parish in the Diocese of Green Bay.

Prayer

I know of one means only by which to attain to perfection: LOVE. Let us love, since our heart is made for nothing else. Sometimes I seek another word to express Love, but in this land of exile the word which begins and ends is quite incapable of rendering the vibrations of the soul; we must then adhere to this simple and only word: to LOVE.

—St. Thérèse de Lisieux, Doctor of the Church, in a letter to her cousin Marie

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Ignatian spirituality reminds us that God pursues us in the routines of our home and work life, and in the hopes and fears of life's challenges. The founder of the Jesuits, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, created the Spiritual Exercises to deepen our relationship with Christ and to move our contemplation into service. May this prayer site anchor your day and strengthen your resolve to remember what truly matters.

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October 1, 2015

St. Thérèse of Lisieux

Lk 10: 1-12

After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house!’ And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you.

Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, on that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town.

In This Together

I’ll bet the disciples were both nervous and excited when Jesus sent them out to proclaim the peace of his kingdom. Sharing joy and good news is uplifting, but sometimes it can be nerve-wracking to step outside our comfort zone! In his directions for their mission, Jesus directs the disciples to go out in pairs, totally dependent on God’s providence and the kindness of strangers. Having a friend along can often make a journey more fun, and it’s comforting to have an ally when we’re uneasy or afraid. Were some of the disciples uncomfortable not bringing any provisions or money along? What did they learn about placing all their trust in God?

What friendships and support systems am I most thankful for? In which parts of my life do I totally depend on God to take care of me? How do I share the peace of Jesus’ kingdom with others?

—Maggie Melchior is a convert to the Catholic faith. She currently serves as Coordinator of New Evangelization and Faith Formation for a parish in the Diocese of Green Bay.

Prayer

I know of one means only by which to attain to perfection: LOVE. Let us love, since our heart is made for nothing else. Sometimes I seek another word to express Love, but in this land of exile the word which begins and ends is quite incapable of rendering the vibrations of the soul; we must then adhere to this simple and only word: to LOVE.

—St. Thérèse de Lisieux, Doctor of the Church, in a letter to her cousin Marie